Morrisons Great South Run

Clarence Esplanade in Southsea is transformed into a sea of colour every October, as thousands of runners, walkers and joggers don their charity vests and running kit to set off on the Morrisons Great South Run.

Starting life in Southampton in 1990, it moved to Portsmouth a year later and is now the only 10 mile running event in the world to have achieved IAAF gold label status. Previous athletes who have won the fast and flat 10 mile course include Sonia O’Sullivan, Paula Radcliffe and Mo Farah.

The Course

COURSE MAP

The fast and flat course takes you through Old Portsmouth, home of the Portsmouth Cathedral, before entering the Historic Dockyard. Here you’re granted permission to run past the Royal Navy’s current naval ships, and some of the most famous in the world – including HMS Victory, HMS Warrior and the Mary Rose museum.

After exiting the Dockyard you reach the halfway point on Winston Churchill Avenue, before making your way back towards Southsea Common, where you’ll complete the final two miles on the scenic seafront.

The course is steeped in history dating as far back as 1212 and features charity cheering points, boost zones, bands on the run and unrivalled support from local residents and spectators.

Event location

With the perfect blend of historic and modern sights, there is something for everyone in Portsmouth and Southsea.

If you are looking for things to do in the popular waterfront city, why not take a trip up Spinnaker Tower? At 170 metres high you will experience beautiful views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, head for a walk around Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and marvel at HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum, which houses Henry VIII’s flagship that sank in 1545.